IND vs AUS: Nathan McSweeney Set to be Dropped as Australia Ponder Changes For Boxing Day Test

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Nathan McSweeney will reportedly be dropped from the Australia squad to face India in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with young Sam Konstas likely to get a call up for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.

According to reports from CODE Sports and The Sydney Morning Herald, McSweeney is set to face the axe among the struggling top order with the squad likely to be announced on Friday (December 20) afternoon.

McSweeney, who only made his debut last month, has amassed just 72 runs at an average of 14.4 in his six outings for Australia this summer, struggling to cope India's spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. The 25-year-old had never opened in his career before this series, but was brought in to fill the void left by David Warner.

The reports further added that there has been a huge push for Konstas, who was originally slated to take the vacant slot, to be included in the sqaud for the Boxing Day Test, scheduled to start from December 26.

Konstas lost out to McSweeney after the latter impressed during the games against India A ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The youngster, however, pushed his case for a selection again with a century against India XI in a pink-ball warm up match.

The 19-year-old Konstas could be in line for a debut with wicektkeeper-batter Josh Inglis also in the fray for a spot. Inglis has been part of the squad in the first three Tests, but the stumper was not picked in the eleven.

Apart from Konstas and Inglis, the reports also state that all-rounder Beau Webster will retain his place in the squad. Senior batters Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuchagne. who are short of runs, will also retain their spots as per the reports.

Also, Scott Boland is likely to come in as a replacement for injured Josh Hazlewood like in the Adelaide Test. Boland had claimed five wickets in the day-night contest earlier this month, but lost his place to the returning Hazlewood. Now, he is expected to return to the playing 11.